Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a presentation and briefing note of the Director of Regeneration and Economy that provided progress of the Council’s domestic retrofit programmes.

The presentation and briefing note detailed:

·  Domestic Retrofit overview

·  Retrofit Current Activity

·  Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) 2

·  Home Upgrade Grant 2

·  Energy Company Obligation (ECO) 4

·  Local Authority Delivery 3

·  Retrofit Challenges

·  Customer take-up (engagement)

·  Grant Funding and Finance

·  Accuracy of Data to Target Properties

·  Complex and Inflexible Eligibility Criteria

·  Supply Chain and Skills Shortages

·  Housing Stock and Planning

·  Retrofit Opportunities

·  Customer Engagement

·  Retrofit Funding

·  Innovation

·  Policy

·  Skills

·  Next Steps

Fuel Poverty disproportionately affected householders who were vulnerable and on low incomes, and particularly those with ill-health or disabilities. Increasing the capacity of funding available to support these residents was of vital importance.

Most of these programmes specifically supported those residents suffering from fuel poverty or those on low incomes. The improvement of energy efficiency to their homes could help to reduce energy bills, help residents to keep their homes warmer, reduce potential for mould and damp growth, and ultimately help residents to stay healthier.

In considering the presentation and briefing note, the Board asked questions and received responses on the matters summarised below:

·  Eligibility criteria – financial products, ‘Green Finance’ was being pursued with banks to support those not eligible for the scheme with offers that were affordable/manageable

·  Specific loft and cavity wall insulation schemes were available and open to all, but these were not very well promoted/offered by suppliers

·  Affordability – examples of schemes in the Northwest of the country that offered energy efficiency measures with no up-front costs. Service based contract payable over a number of years/fixed-term

·  Information on retrofit programmes/energy efficiency measures were available through direct mail, libraries, community centres and churches

·  Important to get message out - consideration to be given to the use of local radio channels to promote the programmes/measures available to residents.

·  Members to be supplied with information on the measures available, including the list of accredited traders for the works, that they could provide to residents to sign post them to the retrofit programmes

·  141 properties across the city had been supported with energy efficiency measures – variety of works undertaken

·  Progress of those who had undertaken the 2-week retrofitting course

·  Net zero carbon footprint – achievable with relevant Government funding support

·  Once the Net Zero Neighbourhood Project was completed, investigate the preparation of a city-wide retrofit business case

·  Energy suppliers had a major role in supporting home-owners to achieve energy efficiency measures – provision of a service over a long term that would enable residents to acquire a retrofit at an affordable monthly amount on their energy bills

·  Development of a green financial product between authorities being investigated - Wolverhampton, Coventry and Birmingham

·  Need a long-term programme with achievable outcomes - supply chain in place, and skills set available

·  Consideration currently being given to establish an Energy Masterplan for the City for the next 15 years

·  Very important scheme, impacts were huge – climate change issues, health issues, more manageable energy bills for residents

·  EON energy support - last winter a reduced fuel costs scheme was offered to those with a health condition and/or on a low income

·  Clarity of pathway for developing skills – consider getting message out to schools

·  Developing skills and providing training for the retrofit trade was important but consideration needed to be given to the appropriate time to promote the trade. Once there was demand for the work city-wide/regionally/nationally, there would be greater employment opportunities.

Members requested that: they be supplied with information on retrofit programmes/ energy efficiency measures available, including the list of accredited traders for the works, that they could provide to residents; details, on a Ward-by-Ward basis, including what specific works had been carried out, for the 141 properties across the city that have been supported with energy efficiency measures, be circulated to them; and a copy of the presentation slides be circulated to them. They further requested that: officers investigate the progress of those who had undertaken the 2-week retrofitting course; officers consider the use of local radio channels to promote retrofit programmes/energy efficiency measures available to residents; and that once the Net Zero Neighbourhood Project was completed, officers investigate the preparation of a city-wide retrofit business case.

RESOLVED that the Business Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3):

1)  Notes the content of the briefing note.

2)  Agrees to receive further updates regarding the overall progress of the domestic retrofit programmes across the city.